Ankle trauma

Fractures and dislocations about the ankle joint are common injuries. The radiographic "fingerprints" produced by these injuries are directly related to the mechanism that produced that injury. Radiologists must recognize all of the aspects of a particular injury and communicate this information to the orthopedic surgeon because treatment is predicated on recognition of all of the components of the injury. Treatment also depends on restoration of anatomic contour to the articular surface of the ankle joint as well as to reestablishing stability. Plain films, polydirectional tomography, CT, and MRI are useful for evaluating these abnormalities.